Envelope and opening means therefor



Feb. 27, 1968 J. H. HICKMAN ENVELOPE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR FiledMarch 23, 1966 JOHN H. HICKMAN INVENTOR.

United States Patent G 3,376,782 ENVELSPE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFORJohn H. Hickman, 1410 14th St., Baker, Greg. 97314 Filed Mar. 23, 1966,Ser. No. 536,841 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-86) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLSURE Amailing envelope having an opening strip of an invisible natureincorporated therein adjacent the fold Aline between the closure flapand the front face of the envelope along a line of perforationsextending entirely along the closure flap with the gripping end of thestrip delineated by a second line of perforations and wherein the stripdoes not alter the general appearance of the envelope and which does notinterfere with the safety of the envelope closure.

This invention relates to improvements in envelopes, and moreparticularly to new and novel means for facilitating the opening ofenvelopes to render their contents accessible for removal.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an envelopehaving a ripping element applied thereto, inconspicuously concealedentirely therein, and one which is more economical and of less bulkyconstruction than any others that I am aware of.

Another object, in addition to minimizing inadvertent or unauthorizedopening of the envelope by concealment of the ripping element as abovepointed out, is the provision of means for conveniently gripping andmanipulating the ripping element when the envelope is to be opened.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in Ithe details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an envelope made in accordancewith my invention and with a fragment broken away for convenience ofillustration.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale takenapproximately along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the envelope shown inFIGURE 1, and

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner inwhich a sealed envelope is opened.

With continuing reference to the drawing wherein like referencecharacters designate like parts, reference numeral 1 indicates a portionof the envelope which constitutes the front face, 2 the usual lateralextending flaps folded over upon the back of the front panel 1 andadhered to an upward extension 3 thereof, all of which constitutesconventional envelope construction including a usual closure flap 5folded about a fold-line 6 and having an adhesive (not shown) applied toits free marginal edge to enable the same to be sealed in a positionoverlapping the back of the envelope as shown in FIGURE 3.

The envelope construction as just described is well known in the art andit is to be understood that my invention is not limited to thisparticular construction since the same might be applied to otherenvelope conrice structions as will become more readily apparent fromthe following description.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the rear flap 5 is provided with a lineof perforations 8 extending throughout its length and offset downwardlyas at 9 and 10 at one of its ends to provide a finger grip 11 at thatend of the envelope.

The ripping element in accordance with this invention comprises a strip7 preferably, though not restrictively, made of Scotch Strapping Tape orMystik Plastic Coated Cloth Tape adhesively secured to the underside ofthe flap 5 and extending entirely 4thereacross as shown in FIGURES 2 and3. The strip is disposed between and closely adjacent the fold line 6and the line 0f perforations 8. By this arrangement the ripping elementis entirely concealed Within the envelope.

To open the envelope, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, it is merelynecessary to hold the envelope with one hand and pull the finger gripwith the fingers of the other hand outwardly and downwardly along theline of perforations 8. This will cause the thin and hence sharp topedge of the strip element 7 to cut the juncture of the flap 5 and thetop of the envelope neatly along the fold line 6 and at the same timealong the line of perforations 8.

A receipient of one of these sealed envelopes will readily notice theconspicuous finger gripping end 11 and the obvious manner of opening theenvelope will readily appear, but if desired, a brief instruction orarrowed symbol as to the manner of opening may be printed on the iingergrip 11 or adjacent the line of perforations 8.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I amaware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves toothers skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Having -thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

.1. In an envelope comprising a single sheet of material folded alonglines defining a rectangular front face and generally triangularoverlapping bottom, side and top sections wherein said top sectioncomprises an adhesive closure ap, overlapping and adhesively attached tosaid bottom and side flaps, the improvement comprising,

a strip of tape adhesively secured throughout its length to the insideof said closure ap throughout the length thereof adjacent said foldline,

said ap having a rst line of perforaton therethrough for a major portionof its length adjacent one edge of said tape,

a second line of perforations offset downwardly from said first line ofperforations and extending throughout the remaining length of said apthrough one of said side aps and through said front face of theenvelope.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,740 10/1915 Lacroix ,et al.229-86 3,182,892 5/ 1965 Paulson 229-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,784 1893Great Britain. 63,588 3/ 1913 Switzerland. 376,760 5/ 1964 Switzerland.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

